Probabilistic bond strength model for reinforcement bar in concrete

Abstract

In order to overcome the disadvantages of traditional deterministic models, a probabilistic bond strength model of reinforcement bar in concrete was presented. According to the partly cracked thick-walled cylinder model, a deterministic bond strength model of reinforcement bar in concrete was developed first by taking into account the influences of various important factors. Then the analytical expression of probabilistic bond strength model of reinforcement bar in concrete was derived by taking into consideration both aleatory and epistemic uncertainties. Subsequently, a probabilistic bond strength model of reinforcement bar in concrete was proposed by determining the statistical characteristics of probabilistic model parameters based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method and the Bayesian theory. Finally, applicability of the proposed probabilistic model were validated by comparing with 400 sets of experimental data and four typical deterministic bond strength models. Analysis shows that the probabilistic model provides efficient approaches to describe the probabilistic characteristics of bond strength and to calibrate traditional deterministic bond strength models.